Real fake pics of new BlackBerry 10 emerge

The new BlackBerry Z10, left, versus the old Apple iPhone. Caution: this pic is an actual artist’s impression Source: Martin Hajek

JOHN DAVIDSON

With just a few days to go until the launch of BlackBerry 10, Research In Motion’s last, best chance at finding a place at the table with Apple, Samsung and Google, a graphic artist has mocked up images of the BlackBerry 10 phones that suggest they could be every bit as awesome as we true believers hope they might be.

Martin Hajek based his 3D-renderings on the known specs of the BB10 devices, plus on leaked photos of the keyboardless L-Series device (aka the Z10, pictured above, next to an iPhone) and the keyboardful N-Series device (below). So, they should be fairly good representations of what’s going to be officially unveiled come January 30, when RIM launches the new phones at extravaganzas around the world.

The BB10 L-Series device

Source: Martin Hajek

The main launch event is in New York, where I have just landed in preparation for the big day. (Bias alert: I was flown here on RIM’s dime. I spent three hours getting through immigration at JFK airport. Three hours! Not that the ordeal clouds my judgement about RIM, which is after all a Canadian company. It’s the Americans I’m none too keen on right now. Which, I suppose, includes Apple and Google, so I guess it’s fair to say those three hours have left me rooting for the underdog more than usual.)

The thing to note about the faked pictures of the BB10 devices is that they prove RIM is going to kick some good old American butt with its new phones, which could barely be more awesome.

Too much bias?

Maybe. Though it's fair to say I’ve had great hopes for the BB10 ever since the PlayBook came out in 2011. The ill-fated tablet may not have made a dent on iPad sales (nor indeed much of a dent on anything at all), but it did demonstrate that RIM had some interesting ideas about the user experience, which had the potential to leapfrog Apple and Google, if not in sales, then at least in wow factor.

After many delays, those ideas are finally coming to fruition this week. I could hardly be more excited.

The Australian Financial Review

BY John Davidson

John Davidson is the award-winning sketch writer in charge
of Australia's pre-eminent (but sadly fictitious) Digital Life
Laboratories. A former computer programmer, documentary maker and
foreign correspondent, John now reviews all the gadgets he can ill
afford to own.

BY John Davidson

John Davidson is the award-winning sketch writer in charge
of Australia's pre-eminent (but sadly fictitious) Digital Life
Laboratories. A former computer programmer, documentary maker and
foreign correspondent, John now reviews all the gadgets he can ill
afford to own.